Reversing tool



Feb. 22, 1 949. I EDWARDS 2,462,478

I REVERSING TOOL Original Filed May 13, 1940, 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 22, 1949 REVERSING TOOL Charles R. Edwards, Houston,

Tex. Frances Robertha Edwards executrix of said Charles R.

Edwards, deceased Original application May 13, 1940, Serial No.

1945, Serial No. 597,705

12 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in means for recovering elements from well bores.

In the well art, it is well known that in the drilling and completion of wells, pipe, in one form or another, is substantially at all times extending into the Well bore. During the actual drilling, the drill stem or pipe, which is made up of sections connected by coupling collars, has the drill bit mounted on its lower end and is rotatable so as to rotate the bit and perform the drilling operation. After the well is drilled in, well tub-' ing and casing are disposed within the well bore and, of course, remain therein so long as the well is producing. The pipe extending into the well bore may separate, collapse or for other reasons, may fall downwardly in the bore to the bottom thereof; or the wall of the bore may cave in and firmly lodge the pipe, or a portion thereof, within the bore. When any of the foregoing occurs, it is necessary that the pipe be removed or fished ou from the bore before the well operations may continue and manifestly, such removal, particularly where the pipe is firmly lodged or stuck within the bore, creates quite a problem.

It has been found that the lodging or sticking of the pipe usually occurs during the drilling operation and although the present means may be employed for recovering or removing tubing, casing, or other objects or elements from the bore, said means will be described in connection with removing a portion of drill pipe which has become lodged in the bore due to a cave-in of the formation.

The reason that drill pipe is more apt to become lodged or stuck in the bore is because said pip-e is usually rotated within an open hole, that is, there is usually no casing or the like surrounding at least the lower portion of the pipe and due to deeper drilling in recent years, the uncased part of the hole may be several thousand feet. It has often been experienced that the walls of the bore crumble or cave in and often the cuttings, which are normally circulated to the surface, settle back, thereby clogging the bore and binding, lodging, or sticking the pipe. This is caused by various formations, some of which are unstable, through which the drill pipe or stem passes. In extremely sandy strata and in shale beds, the sand or shale may crumble and even heave upwardly in the bore so that the pipe will become wedged in the hole.

It is therefore, one object of thisinvention to provide an improved means for'recovering and removing pipe, tubing, casing and other objects Divided and this application June 5,

2 which may have become lodged,.or which may have fallen downwardly, within a well bore.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved means which includes, a suitable tool adapted to be lowered into the well bore, and connected to the lodged pipe through a rotative or other movement, after which the tool is rotated to impart a reverse rotation to the upper end of the pipe to uncouple a portion of the pipe from the remainder, whereby said uncoupled portion may be removed.

An important object of the invention is to provide a new and improved reversing tool for removing stuck pipe from a well bore, wherein a i reverse rotation is produced at the bottom there- A construction designed to carry out the invention will. be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the upper portion of a reversing tool constructed in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical View, partly in elevation and partly in section of the central portion of the device shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a vertical view, partly in elevation and partly in section of the lower portion of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view with parts omitted, taken on line 5-4 of Fig. 11,

Fig. 5 isa horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line iiio of Fig. 1,

Fig. 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 7-1 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 8 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 9 is 'a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 10 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line Ill-I0 of Fig.2,

Fig. 11 is a horizontal cross-sectional View taken on the line |'ll l of Fig. 2,

Fig. 12 is an enlarged View in elevation, of the anchor clutch of said device,

Fig. 13 is a partial perspective view of one of the pinion supporting blocks.

Often it is desirable to obtain a left-hand motion at the top of a piece of stuck-pipe. For this 3 purpose, I have provided What is commonly called a reversing tool, the upper end of which is turned to the right to produce a left-hand rotation at the lower end of said tool.

The reversing tool includes three main members: one, a driving member, or a driver which usually rotates in a clockwise direction; two, a holding or stationary member called the anchoring member, or the anchor; and three, a turning member for rotating in a counterclockwise direction, called the driven member or the reverse. While these three parts are present in most all reversing tools, a locking member called the lock is also a Very desirable member in any reversing tool which is used to recover pipe and the like from well bores. Another useful member is one for storing and supplying lubricant under pressure to the bearing surfaces; this member is called the lubricator. Still another very useful member is an anchor control used to control the position of the anchor engagement means.

The reversing tool consists of a plurality of sectional housings, the uppermost housing being formed to provide a nipple I21 which has its uppermost end externally screw-threaded so that an ordinary drill pipe I28 may be connected thereto. The nipple I21 has its outside diameter reduced so as to fit the ordinary elevators and rotary slips as are used to handle the string of pipe on the rig. The lower end of the nipple I21 is reduced and provided with screw-threads I29. A gland I3I is provided below the upper end of the housing I30, and said housing is screwthreaded to receive said gland. The gland I3I acts to retain a lubricant. As can be seen in the drawings (Fig. 1), a space is provided between the upper edge of the gland I3I and the lower exposed end of the nipple I21, thereby forming a chamber. Slidable in said chamber is a piston I32 which is provided with a plurality of packing rings I33 on its periphery. Screwed into the threads I34 is an elongated tubular pipe I35 which extends downwardly substantially the length of the tool, and which will be hereinafter explained. The gland I31 has its inner bore enlarged so as to receive a packing ring I36 and a retainer nut I31. Said packing ring I36 packs off between the gland I3I and the tubular pipe I35.

Below the gland I3I, the housing I30 is provided with a hexagonal opening I38 (Fig. 6) which receives a double hexagonal lock ring I39 and also the upper end of an elongated mandrel I40, which latter member is formed with a hexagon upper end to fit inside of the double hexagon member I39. *The object of these hexagonal parts is to lock the housing I30 securely to the mandrel I46 so as to prevent relative rotation between these parts. Below said hexagon-shaped portion of the mandrel I40, said mandrel is externally screw-threaded so that it .may be attached to the housing I30. It is pointed out that the housing I30 is provided with a plurality of ports I4I located above the gland I3I and below the piston I32, which will be hereinafter explained. The double hexagonal lock ring I39 is provided with a plurality of screw-threaded openings I42 for the purpose of removing said ring. The mandrel I extends downwardly a considerable distance to- Wards the bottom of the tool. The lowermost end of the housing I30 has its bore enlarged, and is internally screw-threaded at I43. Adjustably attached to the screw-threaded portion I43 is a friction clutch housing I44, which has its upper end slidably engaging the driving mandrel I40.

4 The bore of said housing is enlarged so as to receive a plurality of frictional spring clutches I45. A sleeve I46 (Figs. 1 and 7) rotatably surrounds the driving mandrel I40, and is provided with a pair of diametrically-opposite elongated slots I41. A plurality of split friction clutch springs I45 surround the member I46 and are provided with inwardly extending ears I49 on each of the exposed ends so as to form self-de-energizing clutches. Said ears extend into one of the slots I41. As the housing I30 and friction clutch housing I44 are rotated, the spring clutches I45 will frictionally engage the inner surface of the clutch housing I44, thereby rotating the sleeve I45. Said sleeve is provided with a plurality of teeth I50 on its lower periphery so as to form the center gear of a reverse motion gearing assembly, Fig. 8. Said teeth mesh With the teeth of a plurality of circumferentially spaced pinions I5I. A plurality of hearing or thrust rings I52 are confined between a shoulder on the clutch housing I44 and the pinion bearing block I56. It is to be noted that said housing terminates above said gears. A packing retainer ring I53 surrounds the lowermost bearing ring and abuts the inner circumference of the lowermost end of the clutch housing I44. Said ring is provided with a packing ring I54 so as to prevent the passage of fluid therethrough. The retainer ring I53 has its lower end externally screw-threaded and attached to the upper end of the housing I55. The pinions I5I are provided with an upper bearing block I56 which is firmly secured to a lower bearing formed in the upper end of the hollow anchor body I51 that carries the pinions I5I, so that a counterclockwise rotation may be transmitted to the housing I from the clockwise rotation of the friction-driven gear I50. For the purpose of assembly, the inner housing I is split longitudinally so as to permit assembly around two circular recesses orf the anchor body I51. Each of said pinions I5I has a central axle I58 which rides in bearings in parts I56 and I51. Located near the upper end of the housing I55 is an internal gear I59; this, together with the gear I56 and the pinions I5I, completes the reverse motion gearing assembly and which with the clutch forms the control for the anchor means.

The object of the anchor control is to provide a means for operating the holding means, and

for maintaining operative contact, with the inner surface of a tubing or casing in a well bore, or the walls of a Well bore, and for disengaging the holding means from such contact.

The lower ends of the housing I55 and the ring I60 are provided with recesses to rotatively receive the upstanding bosses I6I that are formed on the upper ends of the roller retainers I62. The roller retainers or wings I62 are arcuate in crosssection, (see Fig. 9) and have vertical pockets so that a roller I64 may be received in each of said pockets. Said rollers are placed in the pockets from the inside, and the outer portion of the opening of each of said pockets is reduced so as to prevent the rollers I64 from passing therethrough, but will allow a portion of said rollers to project beyond the outer surface of the retainers I62. The roller retainers I62 are pivoted on the pins I6I, and each of said roller retainers has its unattached edge I63 free to swing and carrying a roller I64. The rollers I64 are free to rotate in said roller retainers, but cannot escape outwardly therefrom. Confined within the wings I62, and formed on the sleeve I51, are a plurality of cams I65, said cams being cut inwardly at I66 so as to receive the rollers within the circumference of the tool. Thus, when said rollers are in the grooves I66, they will not engage the casing surrounding said device; but, as they are moved up the inclined surface I65, they will begin to engage said casing until they have finally become wedged and will not rotate further, nor can the anchor I51 be rotated. The tool is now anchored against rotation of the holding means.

7 Lying between the cams I65 (see Fig. 12) is an outwardly-extending circular ring I68, which is also provided on the sleeve I51. Said ring is provided with a plurality of undercut grooves I69, formed parallel with the faces of the cams I65 and which receive flanges I10. Said flanges are provided on the inner surfaces of the roller retainer wings I62, and are located near the unattached edges I63 thereof. Thus, by the engagement of the flanges I10 in the grooves I69, the outer ends of said wings are prevented from swinging outwardly; this also acts to keep the rollers I64 in their respective pockets. The flanges I10 are free to slide in said grooves, and will move along with the wings and the rollers. It is to be observed that a portion of the outer surface of said rollers is knurled, thus providing a gripping surface for said rollers. Pins I1I similar to the pins I6 I are provided at the lower end of the roller retainers or wings I62, and engage within openings I12 in a supporting block ring I13, which block is free to rotate as the wings move and for purpose of easy assembly is radially split.' The sleeve I51 depends downwardly past the roller retainers or wings I62 and ring I13, and has its lower end enlarged and tapered inwardly to form a spline connection I14 which engages with a complementary spline in a corresponding opening in a pinion block I15. The upper end of the block I15 is terminated short of block I13. Confined between the block I13 and the block I15 is an upper junk ring I16 and a lower junk ring I11, so as to confine a packing ring I18 that lies between the two junk rings. The junk rings I16 and I11, and also the block I 13, are separated vertically into sections so as to permit easy assembly. The sections of the block I13 are held rigidly together with crossscrews (not shown) ina well known manner for similar parts. The upper junk ring I16 is circumferentially cut so as to receive a flange I19 which is screw-threadedly attached to a small housing I80a connected to the upper end of the elongated housing I80. The flange I19 will ride on the ring I16, and its upper surface is rotatably confined by the block I13 (Fig. 2).

It will be noted that the driving mandrel I40 continues through a section of the tool shown in Fig. 2, as does the inner pipe I35. Operatively confined between the mandrel I40 and the housing I80 is a series of circumferentially spaced pinions I8I (see Figs. 4 and 11). Said pinions are supported by axles I82 which have their exposed ends confined in recesses formed in the lower and upper sides of a series of spacer blocks I83 (see Fig. 13) that support the axles and space the gears apart. The mandrel I40 is provided with a plurality of teeth, so as to form the elongated external gear I85, which meshes with the pinions I8I. A plurality of retaining pins I86 are inserted in the spacer blocks I83 and contact the axles I82, thereby preventing said axles from rotating and allowing the gears to rotate on said axles. It will be noted that the upper pinion block A (Fig. 4) is vertically shorter than the upper pinion-block I15 (Fig.;2).- This is for the purpose of allowing the pinions I8I,- or a new set of pinions I8I, to be moved up and down along ,the mandrel gear I and the internal gear I84 so that the teeth on the mandrel and in the internal gear, when a portion of them are worn, may be further utilized in unworn sections by moving the gears upwardly; whereby the member I15 (Fig. 2) will have, to be shortened and a larger spacer block E below the last gear inserted thus,

fully utilizing the entire length of the teeth of both the mandrel and the housing to their fullest extent. Obviously if the pinion blocks A andE are utilized first, then the block I15 will be substituted therefor and the pinions I8I moved down- Wardly to engage unworn sections of the teeth on the mandrel and in the internal gear.

, The housing I80, belowthe last spacer block E, has its inner diameter slightly reduced and internally screw-threaded (see Fig. 3). Attached to the lower end of said housing bysaid threads is a radially split thrust nut or supporting rind I81 which is provided with a plurality of inwardly-extending thrust flanges I88. Said flanges are provided with a plurality of lubricant openings I89. The lower portion of the mandrel I40 is provided with a plurality of outwardly extending thrust flanges I which are provided with a plurality of lubricant openings I9I. Lying between the flanges I88 and I90 are a plurality of radially split thrust rings I92, forming an anti-friction thrust bearing. The lowermost end of the mandrel I40 is provided with an enlarged foot- I93, said foot being provided with a plurality of enlarged openings I94. The lowermost end of the ring I81 is provided with a corresponding opening I95, whereby a rod or other similar article may be inserted therein so as to unscrew the member I 81 from the housing I80. The lowermost end of the pipe I35 is externally screw-threaded to receive a cross-lock key I96. Said lock key has an axial bore therethrough, the upper portion l 91 of which is internally screw-threaded, as well as the lower portion.

Screwed into the lower portion of the lock key I96 is a tail pipe I98, which extends substantially to the bottom of the tool so as to carry the wash fluid through the tool. The lock key I96 has provided on its outer periphery a plurality of crosslocking arms I99 (see Fig. 5) whichordinarily lie in grooves I99 extending out from the'central bore in the circular foot I93 of the driving mandrel I40. The lower portion of said lock key is formed to provide a circular collar 200. The lower portion 20I of the housing I80 is internally screwthreaded to receive an externally screw-threaded tap 202 of the lubricator body 203. The uppermost portion of the tap 202 of the body 203 is provided with an inwardly-extending flange 204, whose upper surface rotatably abuts the lower surface of the foot I93 of the mandrel I40, and also surrounds the circular collar 200 of the lock key I96. However, the flange 204 is provided with cross-keyway openings for allnement andsimilar to, but shallower than, the openings in the member I93 to receive only a part of the cross locking arms I99 of the lock key, I96. Thus, whenthe pipe I35 is moved downwardly, the lock key I96 will also be moved downwardly, and the locking arms I99 will move a part of the way into the cross-keyway openings (not shown) of the flange 204, thereby rotatably interlocking the flange 204 and the lubricator body 203 to rotate with the driving mandrel I 40. The portion 20I of the housing. I80 and the tap 202 of the member 203 are 2 locked together by al lock screw 2115, thereby presvonting: their disengagement.

The lubricator body 20$ is provided with an 7 opening 208. Gommunicati'ng withtheinteri'orof said: screw-threaded portion, there: is: provided a collar-2| II which is-scnewed intosaid threads and surrounds the lower' end at the-pipe": I98. 7

'Underlying; the flange 2M: andathe collarilm is a. retainer washer.- ZiIIi. Slidable v within the body 203;, and surrounding: the; pipe I98; is, aa lubrication piston; 212 which has a. central verticalbody- 2153 ands also aflange' 2I'4' on. its lower end whichslidzably. engages, the inner surface of: the body 2.03. The; vertical: portion 2t3- does. not. contact with the; pipe I981 or. the body 203; however-the upper end-1 of thei body 2J3 provided; with a fluidpacked, inwardly-extending flange- 245; which 7 slidably-fengages the: pipe I93 so; as. to prevent fluid; fromaescaping; around said piston.

v Above the flange 2.I:4; and: engaging screw threadslll'tof the body Z03gis-a supporting ring 2H which is provided with a: plurality of ports 218... confined betweenathe retainer ring 241 and the. retainer nut ZIB- is a coil spring" 2I9: which urgesthe. retainerringZJI upwardly. Surrounding the pipe [98, and confinedbetween the. flange 215. andthe collar. 2I Il,.is an elongated coil spring 2'2II whichacts to urgesaidpiston upwardly; so as tosupply lubricant to all the. operative. bearings in theentire tooll,

In operation, a suitable lubricant. is forced through the connection 201 and flows inwardly down through the ports 218, and forces the. flange 2M of the piston2I2 downwardly. The plug 208 is removed. and when said. flange can, be, seen through the. port 208; the operator then knows that the lubricating chambe'r'is full. Obviously, the =spring-22H'willbedepressed and will'maintain an upward pressure on the. piston. 2I2;. and; as the" lubricant is forced out of the lubricating chamb-ergthe spring will movethe piston upward: 'ly. The lubricant isfree to flowupwardly around the spring 2'I9, upthrough' cross-keyways; in" the flange 2M around the retainer ring" 2II;,, and around the cross-lock key I96; upwardly to all partsot the device; Itis also free to-fi"owup through the-.openinglw to the thrustbearing I92; andiupv'lardly'throughthe openings I89 and Ill-I6 Thus the device is completely lubricatedby pres-- sure lubricant at.all:times.

Themethod. of operation of the reversing tool is; to; attach; to. its lower: end a suitable" fishing tooLand to'place-a-key in the threads zll's; The tubingior: drill stem I28; is atta'ched to' the'uppe'r' end ofthe tool I21. Whentlie fish or stuck'pi'peis engagedby the above described fishing tool (which maybe aleft. handitap; a. spear; anzovershot, or other: grapple) insuch'manner as toexert'a hold ingz action so as: to: tend to; prevent; rotatiom of the partzz'flt and'off. thezinternal gear I 86; the pipe I28 rotated to the right, thus rotating the mandrel,. including. thememberr I 2 and ithethouse' ipg I3IT. A'stthe housing. I30 is rotated}. the nut ml, the double heir I 39 the pipe I35, and the mandrel- M'll will also-rotate-as a unit to=the right. Thelower end of the housing I-3II= issecurel y connected to the friction clutch housing I 46 which will frictionall'y engage the clutches F45; Said clutches will rotate the gear sleeve I45, and; in turn, the gear teeth on the lower end of said sleeve will reversely rotate the gears I5-I". Said gears will rotate the *housing I55 to the left; thereby'mov-ing'the rollers I5'4-up -the inclined sunface of thecams IKE-'wedging said rollers between the inclined surface of the cams and a casing: (not shown), which will-hold the holding means of said device firmly against rotation within the well. The mand'rel MI] will continue to rotate and the friction clutches I III willslip on the housing M4", thu tendingto continuously force therollers'further' out: along. the cams I65 and thussecurely anchoring the tool, but still allowing the inner driving mandrel Id fl to rotate. said m'andrelwill rotate the gears I 81" counterclockwise and thereby rotate the outer housing I85 counterclockwise. This counterclockwise rotation will in turn "be transmitted downwardly so as to unscrew one of the right-hand threads in the fish or stuck pipe below the tool. After the fish is separated into two sections; the unscrewed sect-ion can, if free, be'with'd'rawn fromthe-bore along with the tooli However, it is the practice-to slightly rotate the pipe I28 and the driV-i'ng mandrel I' IIJ a little tothe left so as to completely releasethe cams I65 from the inside of the casing or stuck pipe before'pullingoutwith the tool and the released section of the fish. At times circulatlon'i's'of service; the circulation fluid being passed through thepipes I35 and I981 These operations are repeated to suit; the operator.

Long and continuous. rotation will wear the teeth on' the driving mandrel and in the driven housin and in order to continuously use.the tievice. without complete disassembly, the gears IEI may. be moved upwardly,. as: above indicated; a spacer block-E placed under the lowermost block D; andthe. relatively short member Asubstituted for the member I15; as is. shown in Fig. 4,.thereby. making. the: device adjustable; As isclearly illustrated. in.F'ig.. 4 thevaxial extent or the-pinions I8I- is decreased:fromthe-bottom to the: top of the gear assembly. The. axiallength of the member D is substantially equalto-thc corre sponding. lengthof the lowermost and longest pinion: I-8.I: and. the members. 3- and. C are substantially equal inlength and are'slightly longer than the axial lengthrrofi the-longest pinion" I-8-I: Hencev it-isobvious. that when the pinions: I8 I r are moved upwardly; unwor-n sections of: the teeth on the mandrel. gear I85 and theinternal gear I 1 areengaged thereby. .I-Iowever; the pinions and: pinion. axles will often become worn, and'iiu this case thesesmall: inexpensive parts will. be renewedandthe' very expensive, long :gearswill be the same: as? new atv the: new: locationsof the pinions.

Thezouter housing. I will rotate; as; liereinbefore described; and will: impart such rotation to the body 203; the *bottom of-said:body rotating the fishing: tool attached: thereto. The lower portion of 1 thermandrel I 4-0; .t'hrough theffianges I80; will ride'ont the thrust rings I9-2-;..thereby supporting said. mandreL. Thus; by a; clockwise rotation at the-:top of I said device; the operatoris able-to obtain: a counterclockwise rotation at the bottom or thei-device'; andiat alltimes the spring- 220 is pressed upwardly against the piston andi's 9 forcing lubricating fluid up through said structure.

As is indicated in Figs. 2, 11 and 13', it will be seen that-the pinion pockets I83a are not each formed in its entirety in the end of any one of the pinion supporting blocks I83. This is also an important feature of the invention. As can be seen, if these pockets 183a where, as is the usual practice, formed in their entirety in theend of a single section of the pinion block I83, then the strength of the upstanding or downwardly-directed parts of the blocks I83 which are circumferentially located between the pinions I8 I, would be only about one half as great 'as if the joint was located as shown in Fig. f1.

However, it has been'iound in practice that with these pockets cut in both sections, even then in many cases there is such excessive deflections of these parts that the load wear is increased on the upper ends of the pinions and gears. In order toovercome this last condition, a new and useful improvement has been made by further shortening the depth of these pinion pockets bymultiple decking of thesepinionsand at the same time greatly lengthening'the'initial pinion tooth lengthywhich is done by"inaking said pinions much longer and then cutting each pinion up into short lengths. It will also be observed that the upper section's oithese pinions have been out shorterthan'the' lower sections, the purpose being to shorten still further the length of the upstanding portion and downwardly extending beamsbet'weenthe upper section ofthese pinions where the loadis the'greatest. It is believed that that'thi's is a novelconstruction'," and, in practice, it is being foundto be very useful where space prevents enlarging the size of the parts.

It is apparent that'the total beam deflection withthe old and usualconstruction; andwith the pinions having equal total gear teeth, length, and

load, is approximately severalhundred'times' as great as is the beam deflection forthe'type of construction herein shown; with similar total gear teeth, length, and load. This isthe case without allowingfor the great advantages obtained by having veryshortpinion axles'I82, as in the present construction; over the long springy axles of :equal total length in the usual construction now inuse throughout many industries.

The gear block orgear. assembly, shown most clearly in Fig. 4, comprises the annular members A, B, C, D and Hand, of doursathepinions' l8l. The spacer block A is located immediately within the housing I 80a. This spacer" block is interchangeable with the vertically longer spacer block I15 shown, in Fig. 2 when it is desired to vary'the positions of the pinion Hill with respect to the gear I85. The pinion supporting block B extends around the interior of the housing I Hand is complementary to the pinion supporting block C, which is partially shown in Fig. 13. The lowermost pinion supporting block D is similar to pinon supporting block C but is of. slightly smaller axial extent in order to accommodate a larger pinion. The spacer block E forms the support for the various other blocks just enumerated. The entire assembly is maintained as a rigid unit by means of bolts I 83' shown in Fig. 11 which extend upwardly into screw threaded recesses (not shown) in block A. These bolts are seated in counter-sunk recesses (not shown) in lower spacer block E and are threaded so that nuts may beengagedthereon to firmly unite all of the parts intoa'rigid assembly. One advantage r this is that the gear block can be moved as a unitand another advantage is that the pinions I 8I are designed to bear against the vertical arcuate surfaces in the pockets l83a so as to lend support to the pinions during rotation in view of the tremendous stresses involved.

In the event the operator is desirous of releasing the fish, or for any other reason is desirous of'obtaining a clockwise rotation at the bottom of the tool, he releases the anchor by a slight lefthand turn and builds a fluid pressure within the tool with the pumps; said pump pressure will act on'the upper surface of the piston I32, moving said piston downwardly. As said piston is moved downwardly, the pipe I35 will also be moved downwardly, and the lower end of the pipe being connected to the lock key I98 said lock key will move down, depressing the retainer ring 2 and the spring 2I9; The crossarms 199 of'said key will move down into the openings in the flange 204, thereby the body portion 203 must rotate with the pipe I35 and the drivin mandrel I40. When the pump pressure is released from the'piston'l 32, the spring 2 I 9 will move the retainer ring 2II upwardly, thereby moving the lock key I 96 upwardly and also the pipe I35, whereby the device will be unlocked'and will resume its original position. Movement of the piston. I32 is facilitated by the openings I4I which function as breather openings.

It. will be noted 'from the foregoing description that I have provided a reversingtool which may be easily operated'within a Well bore and which is Provided with means to transmit the enormous strains'normally encountered in uncoupling stuck pipe in a well. It. will also be observed that I have provided means to'lock the upper clockwise rotating housing to the lower counterclockwise rotating housing, this means being operated by fluid pressure of the circulating fluid. It is merely necessary to increase the pump pressure in order to engage both housings to rotate the same as a unit,

In addition to the foregoing it, will be noted that the locking means also seals the various moving parts from the circulating fluid within the bore of the operating string, Fluid from without thetool is prevented from entering the various chambers containing the operating parts by packings.

The gearing used to transmit force from the driving mandrel Mil to the reverse housing is formed as a compact unit and has many advantages. For example, it can be removed as a unit and in addition, the pinions I3 I which are supported by and bear against pockets IBSa. are capable of withstanding excessive strains since the pockets in combination with the gear on mandrel I40 and internal gearl84 on the reverse housing I support each of the pinions I8I throughout practically all of their circumferential extension. Finally, as stated above, by

interchanging spacer blocks A and E of Fig 4,.

mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means statedby any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A reversing tool adapted to unscrew pipe in a well, said tool comprising a member rotat able in one direction, a second rotatable member and means to rotate said second rotatable member in a reverse direction to that of said first rotatable member, said members each including elongated teeth said means being actuated by rotation of said first member and including a plurality of superposed series of pinions in engagement with the gear teeth of each of said members, superposed pinion blocks supporting'said series of pinions, means rotatably mounting said pinions of each said series in two adjacent pinion blocks, and an anchoring member supporting said pinion blocks and having externally expanding holding means.

2. A reversing tool adapted to unscrew pipe in a well, said tool comprising a member rotatable in one direction, a second rotatable member and means to rotate said second rotatable member in a reverse direction to that of said first rotatable member, said members each including elongated gear teeth said means being actuated by rotation of said first member and including a plurality of superposed series of pinions in engagement with the gear teeth of each of said members, superposed pinion blocks supporting said series of pinions, means rotatably mounting said pinions of each said series in two adjacent pinion blocks, and an anchoring member supporting said pinion blocks and having'externally expanding holding means, said tool including a friction clutch connecting said first named rotatable member and said anchoring member for actuating said expanding holding means.

3. A reversing tool adapted to unscrew pipe in a well, said tool comprising a member rotatable in one direction, a second rotatable member and means to rotate said second rotatable member in a reverse direction to that of said first rotatable member, said members each ineluding elongated gear teeth said means being actuated by rotation of said first member and including a plurality of superposed series of pinions in engagement with the gear teeth of each of said members, superposed pinion blocks ion blocks, said anchoring member supporting said pinion blocks.

5. A reversing tool comprising an upper rotatable member, an anchoring member and a lower rotatable member, said rotatable members being connected by gearing, said anchoring member including a cam and roller, and means for actuating said cam to force said roller outwardly beyond the periphery of said anchoring member to engage a surface surrounding said tool,

-- 6. A reversing tool comprising an upper rotatable housing, an intermediate rotatable housing and a lower rotatable housing, said intermediate housing being provided with holding means adapted to engage a surface surrounding the tool and to hold the intermediate housing stationary and means connecting said three housings whereby rotary movement of the upper housing produces reverse rotary movement of the lower housing, said intermediate housing containing a cam member, a wing pivoted to said intermediate housing, said wing rotatably mounting a contact roller and means actuating said cam to move said wing and roller outwardly.

'7. A reversing tool adapted to unscrew pipe in a well bore, said tool comprising a rotatable member including an elongated mandrel, an anchoring means, a rotatable housing, said anchoring means including a tubular actuating member surrounding said mandrel, and a slip clutch connected to one of said members and in frictional contact with the other of said members whereby rotation of said first named member is permitted while said anchoring means remains stationary, said housing also surrounding said mandrel, and gearing connecting said housing to said mandrel whereby rotation of said first-named member produces reverse rotation of said housing, said gearing comprising superposed seriesof pinions and said pinions of one series varying in axial extent from the pinions of another series.

8. A reversing tool adapted to unscrew pipe in a well bore, said tool comprising a rotatable member including an elongated mandrel, an anchoring means, a rotatable housing, said anchoring means including a tubular actuating member surrounding said mandrel, and a slip clutch connected to one of said members and in frictional contact with the other of said members whereby rotation of said first named member is permitted while said anchoring means remains stationary, said housing also surrounding said mandrel, and gearing connecting said housing to said mandrel whereby rotation of said first-named member produces reverse rotation of said housing, said gearing comprising superposed series of'pinions and said pinions of one series varying in axial extent from the pinions of another series, said pinions being rotatably supported by means connected to said anchoring means.

9. In a reversing tool, an inner tubular member, an outer tubular member, means connecting said inner and outermembers for rotation relative to each other, said outer member including a portion extending below said inner member, a tubular pipe within said inner member and extending therebelow to form an annular lubricantstorage chamber with the portion of said outer member extending below saidinner member, an annular piston in said annular chamber, and means resiliently urging said. piston upwardly to force lubricant between said members to lubricate said means.

10. In a reversing tool a tubular housing comprising three relatively rotatable sections, reverse drive gearing including a plurality of axially spaced series of circularly arranged pinions, one of said sections including a plurality of annular pinion blocks secured in abutting relationship and being of different length, said blocks being provided with longitudinal recesses for rotatably supporting said pinions, internal and external gears intermeshing with said pinions separately secured to the other two sections, said gears having continuous teeth substantially longer than the over-all length of said pinions whereby upon interchange of said pinion blocks the pinions may be selectively shifted to mesh with unworn portions of said gears.

11. In a reversing tool, reverse drive gearing including a plurality of axially spaced series of circularly arranged pinions, a plurality of superposed, annular pinion blocks secured in abutting relationship, said blocks being provided with upper and lower longitudinal recesses forming pockets for said pinions, and means rotatably supporting said pinions in said pockets.

12. A reversing tool adapted to unscrew pipe in a well bore, said tool comprising a rotatable member including an elongated mandrel, an anchoring means including externally expandable holding elements, means for expanding said holding elements, said anchoring means also including a tubular actuating member rotatably journaled on said mandrel, a driving connection from said tubular actuating member to said expanding means, and a split friction clutch spring connected to one "of said members and in frictional contact with the other of said members whereby rotation of said first named member is permitted to continue after said holding elements have been expanded.

CHARLES R. EDWARDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

